How often to replace the blades and foils of an electric shaver?

Nothing beats the first shave with a fresh set of blades and foils in an electric shaver.

You are left with buttery smooth skin and a clean shave that leaves you feeling ready to take on your day.

But then, as you begin to use your electric shaver more and more, you may notice that the shave you get is not as close or does not leave your skin as smooth.

This is a good sign you need to replace the blades and foils.

Luckily, we have put together a comprehensive package of everything you need to know about how often to replace your blades and foils, and the important things to look out for before doing so.

Here, we address key questions regarding blade and foil care.

Why Should You Replace Your Blades and Foils?

Like any sharp object, over time it can become dull. Just like a knight in Medieval Times needed to ensure his sword was extremely sharp before a battle, it is important to make sure that your electric shaver’s blades are sharp as well.

With a dull blade and old foils, hair is not cut well and leaves a prickly feeling all over the face and neck.

Replacing blades and foils in a timely manner ensuring that your shaving routine is not a waste of time.

Electric shavers are designed to deliver a close shave each time, and by neglecting the blades and foils, this prohibits the shaver from doing its job well.

What to Consider Before Replacing the Blades and Foils Not every person will have to replace these two things at the same time.

For example, those who shave on a daily basis versus those who shave once a week will have to replace blades and foils at entirely different times.

Consider the following:

A thickness of facial hair

The frequency of shaving

3. Type of shaver you use

4. Brand of shaving cream or oil you use before shaving

5. Quality of blades and foils With these things in mind, you should be able to gauge how long your blades and foils will last you.

The better care you take of your electric shaver, the more you will extend the longevity of its components.

What to Look For:

Thankfully, there are many warning signs to look out for before your blades and foils kick the dust.

All you have to do is carefully examine your electric shaver before and after each use, and make note of any deficiencies.

1. If the shaver pulls on the hair. If you notice that your shaver is tugging on hair with each movement, this is a sign the blades and foils need a replacement. Typically, when this occurs, something has gone haywire with the cutting block. It is not enjoyable to have your facial hair pulled on, so be sure to make note of this if it occurs. Everyone deserves a comfortable shave.

2. There is still visible stubble. After shaving, you may notice stubble still all over your face. This is extremely frustrating and a sign that your blades are wearing out. Dull blades equal a not-so-close shave.

3. The shaver overheats. If you grab your shaver and it feels like touching a hot stove with bare hands, this is a sign you need to replace the blades or the device altogether. A shaver should never overheat to the point of burning your hands and this can pose as a danger.

4. The shaver nicks and causes razor burn. Razor burn is uncomfortable and does not look pretty. When blades are dull, this is a common occurrence. An electric razor should comfortably glide across your face and not cause bleeding, rash, or razor burn.

What is the Standard Recommendation for Replacement?

As we said, it depends on a frequency of use and quality of blades and foils.

That being said, there is a standard recommendation for blades and foils that is helpful to know about.

Typically, one should replace foils every 12-18 months, and replace blades every few months.

Those who do not shave very often may be able to get a couple years out of their blades and foils.

How to Extend the Life of Blades and Foils Even though you now know the importance of replacing blades and foils, there is no reason why you cannot extend the longevity of them.

By taking proper care of your device, you get more bang for your buck! Consider the following:

1. Clean out your shaver after each use. The more you allow hair and grime to build-up the more you are damaging your blades. Shaking out hair and dead skin after every shave is very important! You can also rinse out the blades and foils with water or unscented soap.

2. Lubricate, lubricate, lubricate! Yes, we said it three times because it is so imperative to the longevity of your blades and foils. Lubricate all major parts of the electric shaver paying careful attention to each part. The reason why you want to oil it up is to prevent unwanted friction between the parts and to allow it glide with ease and precision.

3. Dry off thoroughly after shaving. The last thing you want to happen is to have your blades begin to rust. Rusty blades are dangerous and not something you want to drag across your face. This can easily be avoided by not allowing water to pool on the blades or foils. All you have to do is take a soft cloth and gently dry off the shaver before putting it away. When it comes down to it, each person will have to replace their shaver’s blades and foils at different times.

We discussed just some of the most important things to consider and how to extend the life of your electric shaver.

Most devices are intended to last a long time, but it depends on your carefulness during use, after-care, and storage.

The reason why individuals constantly find themselves replacing blades and foils is because they do not know what to look for or how to maintain the life of them.

Hopefully with all this knowledge in tow, you can be on your way to a healthier, longer, and smoother shave for a long time with your blades and foils.

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